Intro from Montana: '73 2.0L rustoration thread Options

[bbrock]

Really beautiful work Brent. I can’t believe you actually plan on farting on them. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)
That blows. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

Not planning to, but you know, shit happens. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

[bbrock]

Here's a quick one. To recap, this has been cluttering up my table saw/work bench since early December:

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads/post-20845-1544552622_thumb.jpg) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads/post-20845-1544552649_thumb.jpg)

and as of this morning sporting a new set of bronze bushings from PMB:



Hard to see it, but I plated the brake piston assembly black zinc to give it a little extra protection while staying close to the original finish. The rubber pedal stop is borrowed from the pedal board and is too long. Seem to have lost the short piece so will need to order. They are $2 from Porsche. Should be $0.25 but that's Porsche. Happy to have this done because now I can install the master cylinder and all that is attached. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)

I'll try to catch up on critter pics for Rob. This little guy was captured on a camera trap set right next to the house. Probably the same f@#$er that stole my Tevas that year. Or maybe the one that left a turd on top of the bee smoker like a cherry on a sundae.

[bbrock]

A bit of a learning curve with the plating. While I was able to get beautiful, shiny zinc plating from the get-go, I was having problems with the yellow chromate not hardening and would easily rub off even after several days of drying. After some reading on the Caswell forums, I adjusted my process and seem to be getting good, consistent results.

Here's a nice before and after.

[76-914]

Nice looking work. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[euro911]

Now I know where to send my parts for plating (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)


Looking great, Brent (IMG:style_emoticons/default/thumb3d.gif)

[bbrock]

Spring Time

I rigged up a Poor Man's spring tester today using some scrap plywood and a bathroom scale. I was hoping I would be able to put a 1 inch pre-load on the spring, tare the scale to zero, then crank the spring down another inch to read only the weight added in the second increment. I wasn't surprised it wouldn't tare with that much weight but my backup plan was to tare the scale with the spring on and no compression, then take incremental readings as I compressed the spring an inch at a time. Like most "smart devices," this thing is dumb as shit. Simple analog would have been much better. Anyway, I managed to compress the spring manually an inch to get a reading, then repeat at 2 inches. I tried for 3 inches but was afraid I would break the rig. Anyway, I was able to get consistent readings of 42 lbs. for the first inch which I expected would be light, then 92 lbs. at 2 inches. If I'm thinking right, that means my springs are only rating at 50 lbs/inch. Not unexpected but crap (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) I guess I'll jump on the GB for stock springs that 914Rubber has promised.



To end this on a more satisfying note, I put the instrument cluster in the dash today. Waiting for the wife to notice it missing from the family room counter. They look better in the dash. I'm a little bummed though because I have a set of new gauge gaskets from 914Rubber but they fit way loose in frame and the gauges would fall out if I used them. My original gaskets are looking a little ratty but at least they hold the gauges in place.



And here is a shot of the pedal cluster back home after 35 years. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cheer.gif)

[76-914]

In that next-to-the-last pic; Is that the "Steering Wheel Delete" Option I see , Brett?

[bbrock]

In that next-to-the-last pic; Is that the "Steering Wheel Delete" Option I see , Brett?

Yes, I figure I'll be so Zen with this car, it will just know where to go. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) I'm actually itching to put that sucker in, but I'd just have to pull it out again when I get back to prepping for paint on the exterior. Right now, the whole dash can be lifted out in a couple of seconds. It seems to be getting heavier though for some reason. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[andrewb]

It seems to be getting heavier though for some reason. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

All that plating you're doing (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Love the spring test rig by the way - simple and effective and easy to beef it up if you were testing stiffer springs.

Keep it up with the critters. This was trying to hibernate with my 914 last week. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[bbrock]

It seems to be getting heavier though for some reason. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

All that plating you're doing (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Love the spring test rig by the way - simple and effective and easy to beef it up if you were testing stiffer springs.

Keep it up with the critters. This was trying to hibernate with my 914 last week. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Nice hedge hog! We don't get those cool little guys on this side of the pond, but my niece has one for a pet.

Kind of dead in the water on my project today. Trying to get new brake reservoir lines on the barb fittings that go into the master cylinder. Less fun than a case of crabs. Then the power went out... again. Have Internet on battery backup so not much to do but post another critter pic.

Things didn't end well for this little guy. Many years ago, I found it sleeping under our porch WHILE I was building it. It barely stirred through all the sawing, hammering and drilling but toward evening, it ventured out to do what skunks do. Unfortunately it had bad timing because our previous malamute happened to be walking by just then and nailed it. And yes, only then did it do the other thing that skunks do.

[Dion]

It seems to be getting heavier though for some reason. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

All that plating you're doing (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Love the spring test rig by the way - simple and effective and easy to beef it up if you were testing stiffer springs.

Keep it up with the critters. This was trying to hibernate with my 914 last week. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Sorry can’t help myself....
Spiny Norman! all the Monty Python fans know!
.....Dinsdale?!!!
Looking great Brent. Love all the shiny hardware. Sorry you are having power issues .

[mepstein]

Spring Time

I rigged up a Poor Man's spring tester today using some scrap plywood and a bathroom scale. I was hoping I would be able to put a 1 inch pre-load on the spring, tare the scale to zero, then crank the spring down another inch to read only the weight added in the second increment. I wasn't surprised it wouldn't tare with that much weight but my backup plan was to tare the scale with the spring on and no compression, then take incremental readings as I compressed the spring an inch at a time. Like most "smart devices," this thing is dumb as shit. Simple analog would have been much better. Anyway, I managed to compress the spring manually an inch to get a reading, then repeat at 2 inches. I tried for 3 inches but was afraid I would break the rig. Anyway, I was able to get consistent readings of 42 lbs. for the first inch which I expected would be light, then 92 lbs. at 2 inches. If I'm thinking right, that means my springs are only rating at 50 lbs/inch. Not unexpected but crap (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) I guess I'll jump on the GB for stock springs that 914Rubber has promised.



To end this on a more satisfying note, I put the instrument cluster in the dash today. Waiting for the wife to notice it missing from the family room counter. They look better in the dash. I'm a little bummed though because I have a set of new gauge gaskets from 914Rubber but they fit way loose in frame and the gauges would fall out if I used them. My original gaskets are looking a little ratty but at least they hold the gauges in place.



And here is a shot of the pedal cluster back home after 35 years. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cheer.gif)

I have heard that stock 914 springs ranged from 60-90lbs. I've never purchased a car with old shocks and springs that were any good but I still keep an old set or 2 because they are good for making a chassis a roller.

[Dave_Darling]

Stock springs were on the order of 50 lb/in, so yours are pretty close. It takes some number crunching to get the figure, because the factory manual describes the spring rate in a very odd way, and you have to pull numbers from a couple different pages in the manual.

Hopefully the Piranha brothers will stay away from Andrew's place...

--DD

[bigkensteele]

It seems to be getting heavier though for some reason. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

All that plating you're doing (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Love the spring test rig by the way - simple and effective and easy to beef it up if you were testing stiffer springs.

Keep it up with the critters. This was trying to hibernate with my 914 last week. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Nice hedge hog! We don't get those cool little guys on this side of the pond, but my niece has one for a pet.

Kind of dead in the water on my project today. Trying to get new brake reservoir lines on the barb fittings that go into the master cylinder. Less fun than a case of crabs. Then the power went out... again. Have Internet on battery backup so not much to do but post another critter pic.

Things didn't end well for this little guy. Many years ago, I found it sleeping under our porch WHILE I was building it. It barely stirred through all the sawing, hammering and drilling but toward evening, it ventured out to do what skunks do. Unfortunately it had bad timing because our previous malamute happened to be walking by just then and nailed it. And yes, only then did it do the other thing that skunks do.

Our dog Steve got skunked a year ago on 2/13. I can only think of about 5 people I would wish that upon, and 3 of them were presidents.

[bbrock]

Stock springs were on the order of 50 lb/in, so yours are pretty close. It takes some number crunching to get the figure, because the factory manual describes the spring rate in a very odd way, and you have to pull numbers from a couple different pages in the manual.

Hopefully the Piranha brothers will stay away from Andrew's place...

--DD

Hot diggity! I thought I was looking for a number north of 70 lbs/inch. This is the only good thing that's happened on this project today. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif)

[bbrock]

Our dog Steve got skunked a year ago on 2/13. I can only think of about 5 people I would wish that upon, and 3 of them were presidents.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif) Sadly, having a dog get skunked has been about a biennial event for us for at least 30 years. It's a tradition that spans 4 dogs, 3 houses, and 2 states. The most epic episode was when our first malamute got skunked in the backyard at 2am Thanksgiving morning just hours before the family was due to arrive for the feast. Now we keep a quart of hydrogen peroxide on hand at all times for the inevitable de-skunking. The funny thing is that we've had a couple other skunks take up temporary residence under the porch and as long as I can keep a dog from attacking them, we get along just fine.

[mepstein]

@bbrock Did you sew or glue the pressboard strips to the back pad. Because of the thickness of the foam and fabric, I was concerned it would become a mess if I tried to use glue so I sewed the strip in using the previous holes. It took a while but It looks like it will fold the way it's supposed to.

[bbrock]

@mepstein , I just glued it and it worked pretty well, but if I had a way to sew it, that's what I would have done. Seems like that would also help compress the foam. How did you do it? Do you have a heavy duty sewing machine?

[mepstein]

I did it by hand with a needle and thread. I used the old pressboard strips since they already had holes from the previous stitches. I clamped each end to the counter to build in some stretch. My thought was if I didn’t pre stretch it, the middle would stretch more than the ends when I pulled it down onto the hooks. At worst, the end clamps held everything straight while I sewed.

[bbrock]

I did it by hand with a needle and thread. I used the old pressboard strips since they already had holes from the previous stitches. I clamped each end to the counter to build in some stretch. My thought was if I didn’t pre stretch it, the middle would stretch more than the ends when I pulled it down onto the hooks. At worst, the end clamps held everything straight while I sewed.

That's some good thinking (IMG:style_emoticons/default/thumb3d.gif) I wish I'd have done it that way. I did use Weldwood contact adhesive on that instead of 3M because I knew it needed to be a strong bond to compensate for not being sewn.